Château de Villeneuve

Château de Villeneuve is a fortified castle from the 13th century positioned on a hilltop with four buildings arranged around a trapezoidal courtyard, a pentagonal keep, and five circular towers. The structure uses its elevated location for defense and includes rampart walks that provide views across the surrounding landscape.

The fortress was built between 1231 and 1234 by Romée de Villeneuve after he helped recapture Nice, receiving the lands as a reward from Raimond Bérenger V. The stronghold later became strategically important during conflicts between French kings and the Holy Roman Empire.

The castle served as the seat of local authority where feudal obligations were enforced and collected from surrounding lands. Visitors can observe the administrative spaces that shaped daily life for people living under its jurisdiction.

The site is accessible by foot along marked paths and visitors can explore main rooms and sections including park areas and rampart walks. Sturdy footwear is helpful since the hilltop location involves slopes and uneven ground throughout the grounds.

During the French Revolution the fortress narrowly escaped demolition by being transformed into a hospital for wounded soldiers from the Italian Army. This unexpected conversion saved the structure and allowed it to be restored to its original purpose later.